Araghchi says Israel must end Lebanon attacks, occupation under MoU
Iranian foreign minister says next phase of talks will focus on nuclear issues and sanctions relief after memorandum aimed at ending hostilities takes effect
TEHRAN, Iran (MNTV) — Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tuesday that any future Israeli attacks on Lebanon or continued occupation of Lebanese territory would violate a memorandum of understanding between Iran and the United States that is scheduled to be signed later this week.
Speaking to ambassadors, chargés d’affaires, and heads of foreign and international missions in Tehran, Araghchi described the immediate and permanent end of military operations across all fronts, including Lebanon, as the most important provision of the agreement.
“The end of the war in Lebanon is an inseparable part of the complete end of the war,” he said.
Araghchi said Iran has maintained from the outset that any ceasefire arrangement with Washington must apply to all fronts, arguing that developments in Lebanon became closely linked to the conflict involving Iran.
“Because the war in Lebanon and the Zionist regime’s aggression against southern Lebanon became connected to the war with Iran, the Islamic Republic considered ending the war in Lebanon a requirement for ending the war with Iran from the very beginning,” he said.
He added that ending the conflict also requires Israel’s withdrawal from territories it occupied during the fighting.
“The end of the war includes the end of occupation. Without the withdrawal of Israeli forces from territories they occupied during this war, the war will not have been fully brought to an end,” Araghchi said.
According to the foreign minister, Iran views the memorandum as an agreement between the United States and Israel on one side and Iran and Lebanon’s Hezbollah resistance movement on the other.
The memorandum was finalized Sunday after months of negotiations and is scheduled to be formally signed in Switzerland on Friday. Araghchi said the war was effectively declared over Monday following completion of the text, although the agreement will officially enter into force upon signing.
He announced that a new round of negotiations between Tehran and Washington would begin the same day the memorandum is signed, with both sides seeking to reach a comprehensive agreement within 60 days.
“Most likely on Friday, the memorandum will be formally signed, and on the same day a new round of negotiations between Iran and the United States to reach a final agreement will begin,” he said.
Araghchi said the two countries agreed to divide negotiations into two phases because of complications arising from the conflict.
The first phase focused on ending hostilities and addressing issues related to the Strait of Hormuz, the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports and vessels, the release of frozen Iranian assets, reconstruction efforts and other related matters.
The second phase, which will begin immediately after the signing ceremony, will focus on resolving nuclear-related issues and lifting sanctions.
“In the final agreement, decisions will be made regarding nuclear issues and the lifting of sanctions, and we will reach a final conclusion,” Araghchi said.
The foreign minister also thanked Pakistan and Qatar for their efforts in facilitating negotiations between Tehran and Washington.
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